‘IT’LL BE GREAT IF YOURI STAYS’
DEWSBURY-HALL HOPES BELGIAN REMAINS HIS MIDFIELD PARTNER TIGERS STANDPOINT ON STEWARD, BASKETBALL & TENNIS
KIERNAN Dewsbury-Hall hopes midfield partner Youri Tielemans will be alongside him when the new Premier League season begins with the Belgian bringing “another dimension” to Leicester City’s play, writes Jordan Blackwell.
Dewsbury-Hall and Tielemans were Brendan Rodgers’ two undroppable players in the latter stages of last season, the pair playing twice a week every week, even as the manager rotated the rest of his side.
Tielemans, who is in the final year of his contract at City, has been linked with a switch to Arsenal this summer.
But as the window progresses, it seems more likely he may remain at the King Power Stadium for the new season, with the Gunners yet to put forward an offer.
That would be a significant boost for City if the 25-year-old stays put, Dewsbury-Hall believes.
He said: “Of course, everybody knows how good Youri is. When he plays, he adds another dimension to our game with his technical ability. He is a big part of the group.
“Even though he is pretty young, he is a senior figure and he helps a lot of players. It will be great if he stays because he is definitely an integral part of this group.”
Tielemans has twice been captain for City this pre-season, in the games against Hull and Derby.
But he has not yet played alongside the other midfielders who are expected to start the new campaign.
The Belgian has been playing in the side with those who returned late to pre-season training, with Dewsbury-Hall and James Maddison in the other half of the group.
Sunday’s game against Spanish side Sevilla, the club’s final friendly before the Premier League season begins, is expected to provide more clues to the potential starting lineup to face Brentford for the big kickoff.